Posts Tagged ‘Anna Calvi’

If the whole gender debate/subject matter puts you off, don’t let it. Like with Christine and the Queens such concepts and subject matter can rather get in the way of some great songs. This year for Anna Calvi and Christine and the Queens and on both occasions a interviewer hardly asked them about music at all, so pre-occupied were they about ‘gender journeys’, sexuality etc. (Calvi wasn’t impressed with the female journalist asking her about ‘big dick energy’!). Not that that these discussions aren’t interesting, but hey, I’m here for the songs, and luckily her latest album “Hunter” is full of great ones. ‘As A Man’ is a fine and strident opener and has some lovely guitar playing, while ‘Don’t Beat The Girl Out Of My Boy’ was the hooky number that got me interested in the first place. Calvi is a brilliant performer and the songs on ‘Hunter’ bristle with atmosphere, intimacy and menace, like something you might find on a David Lynch soundtrack. Thoroughly Recommended.

Anna Calvi – “As a Man” from Hunter, out now on Domino Record Co.

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Anna Calvi garnered instant acclaim straight out of the box. Her self-titled debut earned her several prestigious awards, among them, a nomination for the Mercury Prize and the special distinction of being named British Breakthrough Act at the 2012 Brit Awards. Follow-up One Breath secured a second Mercury Prize nomination, no small accomplishment for an artist who once claimed she was too nervous to even sing in the shower. Apparently, her self-doubt’s been banished for good, and given the evidence offered on her latest album Hunter, Calvi’s clearly got the confidence needed to take her place among the echelon of Britain’s new musical elite. Brian Eno has sung her praises and become a mentor. David Byrne and Marianne Faithfull have shared their support. A classically trained violinist, Calvi’s won kudos for her guitar work, songwriting and unique style. Still, it’s her voice that commands, courtesy of a delivery that rises from a whisper and then soars with startling effect.

The first single,Don’t Beat The Girl Out Of My Boy. A battle cry with a rousing chorus, the song was partly written while thinking about how young children are when they’re conditioned to follow gender roles – in particular, the “heartbreaking” process through which small boys are taught not to cry or show emotions. Produced by Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Grinderman) at Konk Studios in London with some further production in LA, the album was recorded with Anna’s band – Mally Harpaz on various instruments and Alex Thomas on drums – with the addition of Adrian Utley from Portishead on keys and Martyn Casey from The Bad Seeds on bass. It has a new rawness, a primal energy into which Calvi pushes the limits of her guitar and voice beyond anything she’s recorded before.

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So what has Anna Calvi been doing in the five years since releasing her stellar sophomore album, 2013’s One Breath, this English art-rocker Anna Calvi has kept extremely busy: writing a song for the film Insurgent, releasing a David Byrne-featuring EP, appearing on two David Bowie tribute albums, and oh, writing an entire rock opera. Her third full-length album release, Hunter, looks to retain the singer-songwriter and guitar virtuoso’s flair for drama, this time “exploring sexuality and breaking the laws of gender conformity.” With production by Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Grinderman) and featuring Bad Seed Martyn Casey and Portishead’s Adrian Utley, Hunter promises to be as compelling musically as it is thematically.

Anna Calvi – “Don’t Beat the Girl out of My Boy”, from ‘Hunter’ out 31st August 2018 on Domino Record Co.

Domino Recordings are extremely proud to present a Record Store Day 2017 exclusive 2LP red vinyl of Anna Calvi’s standout live set from the David Byrne curated Meltdown Festival.

Featuring a 12 piece choir and performed at London’s South Bank Centre, one of London’s most gorgeous venues, is perfect for what Calvi has in mind, where her phenomenal voice and guitar-playing is joined by a 12 piece choir from The Heritage Orchestra. ‘Live At Meltdown’ features live renditions of tracks from Anna’s previous albums ‘Anna Calvi’ and ‘One Breath’. I miss the stage.. until we are reunited I am releasing a Live album of my concert at Meltdown Festival, featuring a choir and a collaboration with David Byrne. This will be a Limited Edition Double Red Vinyl which will come out on Record Store Day, April 22nd.

Play it loud. With love, Anna

Features a guest appearance from David Byrne (on ‘Strange Weather’. Limited to 750 copies for the UK and Eire.

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Anna releases a five track Ep this month with a few nice covers titled “Strange Weather” the track here is a cover of Connan Mockasin I’m the Man That Will Find You” there is also a cover of a Suicide track “Ghost Rider”

Well, I'm dyslexic so writing about something I love: Music, might help but it's most likely just full of mistakes. That title is also lyrics from The Drones song called I Don't Want To Change. Oh, my name is William and thanks for having a look.